Panel to plug gaps in statistical system

TNNMay 21, 2003, 06.40am IST

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet has approved a Bill for constitution of National Statistical Commission to address the gaps and deficiencies in the country's statistical system as well as to bring more co-ordinate and standardise the statistical activities. The Bill would be introduced in the House in the monsoon session.

The Commission, to be headed by a part-time chairman and with four part-time members, will identify the areas of core statistics, which are of national importance and critical to development of the economy, constitute professional committees or working groups to assist the Commission on various technical issues and evolve and recommend national policies and priorities relating to statistical systems.

It will also formulate standard statistical concepts, definitions, classifications and methodologies in different areas in statistics and lay down national quality standards for core statistics.

The Commission would also have powers and authority to summon and enforce attendance of any person and examine him on oath on matters connected with core statistics. It could also ask statistical agencies and institutions to provide details of statistical activities, including concepts and definition used, methodologies followed, quality standards adopted, sampling and non-sampling errors in respect of core statistics, and issue commission for examination of witnesses and documents on matters connected with core statistics.

The creation of National Statistical Commission as a permanent and statutory apex body for policy making, coordination and ensuring the quality of core statistics was recommended by C Rangarajan as a chairman of a commission that examined the statistical system of the country.